The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-01-21
OUR SEALS AND COINS.
A PROTEST AGAINST NATIONAL OUT
RACES UPON HERAlDIC ART.


His Reasons why-The Bald Headed
Eagle In His Absurd Poses-An Appro-
pirate Device.
~. Goldsborough Bruff," as he signs
himself, has invited tho attention of CON
g,esS TO the unprecedented Irregularities
and 'absurditics'' Of the heraldic devices
adopted for seals and coins by this 90 yern
ment.
Mr.. Bruif explains that owing to a lack
of knowledge this government made a false
start The art Of heraldry was unknown
in this country infancy, he says, and stand
ard works were unattain bile I'm conse-
quence thereof the new republic was unable
TO obtain a proper device for its national
signet until July 20, 1882, and the device
then adopted of admirable symbolism, is a
baseless fabric, not being bazoned upon an
| escutcheon or shield, and hence we have
never had a national escutcheon Of heraldic
arms, unprecedented in the annals Of her
aldry. Being thus deprived of that basis,
the requisite Of all heraldic achievements,
the government utilized a subcharge of the
arms proper, and as popularity denominated
the national shield or escutcheon, which 1T
is not nor ever can be.
Having no genuine escutcheon, no basis
or standard to start with, this government
has gradually collected an accumulation of
designs which Mr.. Bruff cltracterizes as
ranging from Indifferent and peculiar TO
absurd" He goes on to say:
Gan nations of the civilized world save
our own have enstamped upon their gold
and silver coinage the true heraldic arms of
their individual sovereignty, and with strict
numismatic propriety exclude irrelevant,
fanciful ideas. The American bald eagle
is displayed in every conceivable attitude
and position, and degenerated to numerous
species of the United States mint genius.
FREE AND EASY ART.
1.-THE peculiar style of distributing the
elements of the national arms over the faces
of the coin, including notices and legends
unregardful of significant propriety, is a re-
markable art exhibition of the genius of our
free institutions. Compare the digniied
propriety represented in the devices upon
some Of the earlier coinage: Observe, a
classic bust with legend Liberty, and re-
verse, the national arms as adopted, which
compare with the handsome female head
flleted Liberty though crowned with
grain, etc, as if also to represent the god
dess Ceres or Abundance, doubtless a multi
fold genius, as the motto overhead would in
innate Il pluribus unum. Upon close ex-
animation a small cap is seem amid the
redundant ringlets, apparently falling Off
Reverse, a crucified eagle severely dis
! PLAYED, minus the eScutcheon on his breast,
or the eagle vOant without its appropriate
motto, EXCELSIOR As though disguised
with his vicissitude and general bad treat
ment by the ruling powers he has discarded
/ his shield of the Union olive branch and
three arrows typical we suppose of thirteen)
and ascends to the starry regions Of purity
and truth. CThe square, heavy perspective
is good, but why extend his legs as storks
and herons do9
THE MAD EAGLE.
"In another issue an enraged eagle has
| discovered the discarded american shield
PROSTATE in the weeds and having picked
up the arrows AMI branch pounces upon the
debaSed escutcheon, defantly warning off
/ the despoilers Notices become legends
/ and legends notices. The Goddess of Lib
/ erty, duly labeled. rests herself upon a rock,
with staff and cap and escutcheon, but
/ looks back apprehcnsive Of some mishap.
| This is another phase Of the ever varying
/ diverse. Reverse of which may be one
variety there are several of them of the
| lame eagle: dexter wing horizontally ex-
/ tended, and sinister or left, nearly closed
and vertical. and the usual distribution of
/ stars, motto etc. The latest absurdity, so
eminently puritanical, not in keeping with
/ the times, unauthorized by enactment, is the
/ Gothic legend between the wings Of the cru
Gifted eagle of I'm God we trust.
"Our patriotic fathers put their trust in
God and kept their powder dry Oliver
/ Cromwell had engraved upon some bronze
guns Teach us to shower forth thy praise,
O, Lord TOO lengthy for our coin, but so
applied more benefcent-in diffusion of
wealth The most appropriately consistent
device for establishment of the coin of our
country would be-obverse: \ bust of the
laureated head of the Father Of His Coun-
try, with motto of l. .5erty. Reverse: The
precise heraldic arms of the United States
of America, and no other stellar ornament
than the constellation crest, and no other
legend than the title, value and date, md
motto of arms Such would be creditable to
our nationality, and place us among the
most favored nations of Christendom ~
/ Globe Democrat